FORT LAUDERDALE — A move to equip city police officers with body cameras is being delayed due to privacy concerns.

City commissioners say they support a pilot program but fear Florida privacy laws could put officers wearing cameras in civil or criminal jeopardy.

A number of Florida agencies have already begun using body cameras, including the Broward Sheriff's Office and Hallandale Beach police. But Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler worries the courts may step in and throw a monkey wrench into those programs — similar to how the courts invalidated parts of the red-light camera laws enacted by numerous cities throughout Florida.

City Attorney Cynthia Everett said she's comfortable Fort Lauderdale can put a program in place. Commissioner Dean Trantalis said the city should move forward with a pilot.

"I don't believe there's any legal impediment to implementing this program, if that's what you want to do," Everett told commissioners. "We're going to have policies and procedures and training."

The limited rollout will allow deputies to test four models and work out any hitches, as the agency moves toward the possibility of requiring all 1,400 road patrol deputies...

(Brittany Wallman)

One major concern involves inadvertent taping that would take place during the course of an officer's day. The body camera is constantly recording video and constantly overwriting that video until an officer turns it on for a specific event.

The camera captures and preserves what is recorded from the time an officer turns it on until it is turned off. It also preserves prerecorded material occuring immediately before the officer turns on the switch. The prior video could be a half-minute to a half-hour in length, depending on the agency's policy.

People not involved in an arrest could be inadverently recorded, such as in a hospital emergency room, which might violate health privacy laws, Assistant City Attorney Brad Weissman said.

Police union president Jack Lokeinsky said officers would have to be protected in their collective bargaining agreement from potential lawsuits resulting from wearing body cameras.

"I can't let them wear a camera until it's in there," Lokeinsky said.

Commissioners are also concerned about the cost of storage and handling of what could be voluminous materials. Police Chief Frank Adderley said the city could likely avoid those costs in a pilot program because many of the camera providers are offering free cameras and storage for up to a half-year.

However, Adderley said he would want to hire a project manager if the city moves forward with a pilot program, which he said would cost about $25,000 for a half year.

Before going further, Commissioner Bruce Roberts said he wants Everett's opinion in writing regarding the policies and procedures. He'd also like the issue to be presented to the Citizens Police Review Board for its input, to have the union involved and to assure officers they are going to be legally protected.

Seiler asked staff to identify the gaps and concerns in the proposed pilot program, along with crafting a policy for unintentional recordings.